Back pain is an unpleasant experience that disrupts daily function and sleep. It’s even worse when the pain extends from your lower back down to your legs. If you experience this type of shooting, excruciating pain, you might be dealing with a condition known as sciatica.
Sciatica is a condition that affects 40 percent of individuals. Mild cases usually go away on their own. However, cases that are not immediately addressed often lead to muscle weakness and chronic pain. In these cases, several individuals with the condition seek treatment outside traditional medical care.
Chiropractic treatment is popular for individuals with back pain. However, when it comes to sciatica pain, many patients would ask, “can a chiropractor help with sciatica?” — Fortunately, the answer to this question is yes!
Sciatica chiropractors offer a popular natural treatment for sciatica that is safe. They use chiropractic techniques to provide quick, drug-free pain relief. If you’re suffering from sciatica, we’re here to reassure you that there is a lot that chiropractic treatment can do to help you, regardless of how many treatments for sciatica with a chiropractor you will need.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a type of pain caused by the pinching of your sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve runs from your buttocks down to your toes. It is the longest nerve in the body. Pain can hit anywhere along its nerve pathway when you suffer from conditions such as a trapped nerve, Piriformis syndrome, disc herniation, or bone spur.
The most common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Leg pain when sitting
- Tingling or burning sensations
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the entire leg or foot
- Excruciating pain that makes it difficult to stand up
- Difficulty breathing and other anxiety-related symptoms
A lot of people experience sciatica on only one side of their body. The pain usually occurs as an electric shock or deep aching pain that ranges from mild to severe. The pain normally resolves on its own within 4 to 6 weeks. Depending on your situation, it can be longer than this timeframe.
If you experience sciatica, make sure to seek professional help. Otherwise, the pain might permanently damage your sciatic nerve and lead to loss of bladder control and bowel movement.
What Causes Sciatica?
Generally, sciatica occurs when injury rubs or presses against the sciatic nerve, irritating it. In some cases, sciatica develops gradually without a pre-existing injury.
Sciatica can also result from:
- Injuries to your spine’s vertebra discs
- Spinal stenosis (or narrowed spine)
- Muscular tension buildup in the buttocks
- Increased physical stress on the sciatic nerve during pregnancy
- Being overweight
- Lack of exercise
- Wearing heels
- Sleeping on extremely soft mattresses
- Back injuries
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica? Yes, it can. Regardless of the cause, sciatica chiropractors will provide a personalized treatment to reduce nerve irritation and pain levels. Let’s get into details to know more about their treatment.
How Can A Sciatica Chiropractor Help?
If pain killers or other medications don’t help relieve the pain, seeking the help of a sciatic chiropractor is an effective and natural way to eliminate sciatic pain, prevent it from re-occurring, and improve your mobility.
Treatment for sciatica can vary from one individual to another. The process starts with an exploration of the patient’s medical history and the underlying cause of sciatica. Apart from x-rays, experts assess their patients to ensure that the treatment they give will allow long-term improvement and injury prevention.
Patients with sciatica often respond well to deep tissue work provided by sciatica chiropractors, which involves soft tissue mobilization, trigger point dry needling, and chiropractic adjustments. Sciatica treatments target the painful bands of muscles that accompany it, known as trigger points. Treatments also stretch and apply controlled pressure to one’s joints.
How many treatments for sciatica with a chiropractor will you need? You’ll likely need to see a chiropractor for multiple sessions before you get relief from sciatica pain.
What Does Research Say About Using Chiropractic Care For Sciatica?
Chiropractic care is usually easy to acquire, as it doesn’t require a medical referral, and the practices are often easily accessible to patients. However, there are limitations to its effectiveness when it comes to treating sciatica.
Some studies have recently looked into the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic care, but it was limited due to factors like small sample sizes. Additionally, a 2015 systematic review of studies suggests that chiropractic care offers relief for different types of back pain, including sciatica.
Research also shows that chiropractic care is generally safe for a lot of individuals. This information alone is enough to make chiropractic care a more preferred option for several individuals with long-term pain medication.
What Can You Do To Help With Sciatica?
As part of the treatment, a sciatica chiropractor would also recommend specific exercises or offer nutrition and wellness education to help relieve your symptoms. If you want to boost the healing process for sciatica, here are some suggestions for natural pain relief:
- Avoid sitting or lying down for longer periods.
- Engage in general exercise.
- Perform gentle back stretches.
- Take breaks during your workday.
- Try low-impact exercises for back strength (e.g., crunches).
- Stretch your hip and hamstring muscles.
- Use ice packs for up to 20 minutes at a time.
- Consider using hot packs, warm shower water, or heating pads.
- Take up yoga.
- Get a massage to loosen tight muscles.
- Consider visiting an acupuncturist.
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Mild cases of sciatica typically resolve on their own. However, if the pain persists, consider seeking medical help. Call for medical care if your sciatica:
- Gets worse every day
- Is not resolved by rest or over-the-counter medications
- Has lasted for over a week
- Leads to weak or numb legs
- Causes incontinence
Find A Chiropractor For Sciatica Near Me
If you’re wondering, “is there a chiropractor for sciatica near me?” Advanced Chiropractors Group can help you!
We understand how individual experiences with sciatica require a more personalized approach to chiropractic treatment. By putting your trust in our care, we can connect you with the best sciatic chiropractor to offer you long-term relief from pain. For inquiries, feel free to contact us today.
